Applying edits or effects to selections

You can use the Selections tool to isolate an area of an image. Once selected, you can apply many of the editing tools such as color and exposure, or any of the special effects filters, to the selected area. An active selection in an image looks like a line of marching ants.

To apply an edit or effect to a selection:

  1. Use the Selections tool to create a selection, then click Done to return to Edit. The selection remains active.
  2. Select a tool to use from any of the following groups:
    • Exposure/Lighting
    • Color
    • Detail
    • Add (Special Effects)
  3. Use the tool to edit the image.

Use any of these special selections options:

Show/Hide Selection

ACDSee Photo Manager show selection 16x16 Applying edits or effects to selections

Click to show or hide the marching ants around the selection. Hiding the selection line makes it easier to judge the effect of various effects.

Use Selection

ACDSee Photo Manager use selection 16x16 Applying edits or effects to selections

Click to use the selection or apply the edit or effect to the whole image. This control means you can edit just the selection, then deselect Use Selection and apply another edit to the whole image without clearing the selection.

Invert Selection

ACDSee Photo Manager invert selection 16x16 Applying edits or effects to selections

Click to invert the selection.

Modify Selection

Click to return to Selections to modify your selection on the image. When you make a new selection and click Done, you return back to the editing tool you were using previously.

Feathering

Drag to increase or decrease the blurring between the edge of the selection and the edit or effect.

Feathering prevents an unnatural or sharp transition between the selection and the rest of the image as it blends the edges. This control also makes it unnecessary for your selection to be perfectly on the edge of the area you want to select.

See also:

Applying edits or effects to selections